In John 20:19-22 we read: “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, ‘Peace be unto you.’ And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, ‘Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, ‘Receive ye the Holy Ghost’” (KJV).
Have you ever stopped to think how pitiful, how tearful, how utterly beaten and discouraged was the condition of the disciples after the crucifixion of their Lord? The chief Shepherd had been smitten. The sheep had been scattered abroad. Bewildered and stunned by the swiftness of the blow which had fallen as from a clear sky, their hearts were filled with the terror and horror of it all.
“Can it be possible that but a few days ago, we strode behind Him proudly during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem? We had stood by Him through many a test and now believed that the hour of His glorification had come, when the sons of men should bow before Him, placing a scepter in His hand and a crown upon His brow!”
With what bewilderment and horror were the next hours filled! That strange night in the garden, the lanterns coming through the trees, men with swords and staves in their hands, the betrayal of our Lord, the swiftness of His trial and condemnation, the relentless brutality of His crucifixion. The stark, lone figure of our Lord hanging there suspended ‘twixt earth and heaven—the lowering of that limp, cold body from the cross—its burial in the tomb.
“All men hate us and seek our lives because we have been His disciples. Instead of leading to a throne of glory, our feet have led us to a pit of despair. The end of that old, glorious life has come, and here we sit, huddled together in fear and trembling.”
What must have been their emotions in this, their dark night of despair, when lifting up their heads, which had been bowed with discouragement and sorrow, they looked through the blur of tears and saw their Lord?
Through the excitement and the suspense that surcharged the atmosphere, suddenly, gently, authoritatively and, oh so lovingly, came the sound of that dear, familiar voice, speaking those same familiar words, those wonder-working words, those storm-stilling, peace-bestowing, rest-enveloping words: “Peace be unto you.”
Peace be unto you
Oh! what volumes must have been wrapped up in those four, glorious, typical words of the Master—“Peace be unto you.” And when He had so said, He showed them His hands and His side.
Then were the disciples glad! How they must have fallen at His feet, and thrown their arms about that loving form. No more need of uncertainty—no more need for fear and trembling and huddling themselves together behind barred doors, for fear of what man would do. Your Lord lives, and because He lives, you shall live also. Jesus then shared two other important commandments.
As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you
Jesus is saying to them: “Hear it, O disciple—hear it Peter and James and John—as My Father has sent Me, I am sending you. Soon you shall see Me no more, but remember, I am leaving the work of evangelizing the world all unfinished. You are to go out and go on with the work. The works that I have done, shall you do.
“But though I am sending you forth, children, to preach the gospel unto every creature, I am not sending you forth in your own strength, your own wisdom or understanding. What a pitiful little company you would be, were you to go forth in your own strength! You have now come to realize a great lack and need in your lives.
“The first step toward receiving power, O disciples, is a realization of the need thereof. This need is eloquently demonstrated tonight. Surrounded by your foes, you are helpless to conquer them, preaching and evangelism to be done—yet no unction of power wherewith to do it. Hearken then, unto My third message, and carve it deep upon the tablets of your hearts.”
Receive ye the Holy Ghost
Jesus’ third message to them is this: “This power which you have lacked is embodied in the Holy Ghost—power to pray, power to preach, power to stand like a rock, power to overthrow the citadels of unbelief, power to keep you steadfast in the hour of fiery trials, power to make you run toward, rather than away from, persecutions, imprisonments and beating with many stripes.
“Go into the world, and preach the gospel unto every creature—but tarry first in Jerusalem, till you are endued with power from on high. You can never conquer in your own strength—receive the Holy Ghost.”
His words still apply today
In such surroundings and under such circumstances were the first three messages of the resurrected Lord delivered unto His disciples. The words still apply to the present day. Citadels may still be taken for God. The world may still be turned upside down by believers in His name. Sinners can still be swept into the kingdom in multitudes. The sick can still be healed, and believers be made to overflow with the fullness of the Holy Ghost.
How similar are the existing conditions in the church today to those of the early disciples in the days gone by. Surely, the lack is identical. The failure is identical. And the solution to the problem is identical.
Let us awake, church of the living God, today. Let us sit trembling behind the barred doors in fear no longer. The Lord is risen. Death and hell are under His feet. The devil is a defeated foe. Our Lord, a conqueror and Savior.
That which we need above all else today is a return of the old-time power of Pentecost. Without this power, the early disciples would have been helpless—would never have succeeded, would have gone on for the rest of their lives in fear and compromise and in fishing from the wrong side of the ship of life bringing in naught but empty nets.
Citadels may still be taken for God. The world may still be turned upside down by believers in His name. Sinners can still be swept into the kingdom in multitudes. The sick can still be healed, and believers be made to overflow with the fullness of the Holy Ghost.
-Aimee semple mcpherson
In our own strength we can do nothing. The finger of future apostolic revivals is pointing back to Pentecost. Let us arise and make our way into the upper room. Let us “tarry until” we are endued with the Holy Ghost and power.
Thank God, thousands have already tarried and have not been turned away empty. The latter rain outpouring of the Holy Ghost, descending from heaven in copious showers. Ministers and laymen are receiving the mighty baptism of the Spirit, just as did the 120 in the second chapter of Acts in that glorious upper room.
Thousands are again turning to Christ under the preaching of such Spirit-filled believers and being born into the kingdom of our God and His Christ. Let nothing deter you. Do not put it off until tomorrow. Begin this very hour to wait upon the Lord until the mantle of His Spirit descends upon you.
Then shall we lift our hearts and our songs together in worship and in praise of Him who has caused us to triumph gloriously; and say, Farewell, trembling and trepidation behind closed doors! Welcome, victory and exultation of the living Lord as the all-conquering Jehovah Jirah.
Editor’s note: This article is adapted from an Easter sermon written by Aimee Semple McPherson and published in The Bridal Call Foursquare magazine in 1923.
